Democrats want to call witnesses for the prosecution at President Trump’s impeachment trial but are cowed by Republicans’ threat to call Hunter Biden as a defense witness if witnesses are allowed. In fact, Democrats should call Hunter Biden themselves.

Republican proposals to conduct a witness-free impeachment are silly. The plain meaning of the Constitution’s text, something the GOP used to care about and that conservatives still do, calls for a trial, not motions for dismissal or summary judgment: “The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments … when the President of the United States is tried … ” (emphasis added).